Improved Drainage Bucket

ABSTRACT

Implementations of a bucket comprising improved drainage systems and mechanisms may provide for ease of emptying a bucket of substances without the user needing to bend or reach down to manipulate the bucket or drainage mechanism, and may optionally provide for enhanced filtering capabilities.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is directed to buckets. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to buckets with improved mechanisms and methods of draining liquids contained within a bucket.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Buckets refer to hollow three-dimensional structures with at least part of one face open, where the structure is configured to hold a substance within it. Buckets may be used to carry a variety of liquids, such as water or oil. Buckets may also be used to carry solids, such a dirt, sand, or even objects such as tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will become more apparent and better understood by referring to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters identify corresponding elements throughout. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, or structurally similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a cut-away side view of an implementation of an improved drainage bucket.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of an implementation of an improved drainage bucket.

FIG. 3A is a side view of an implementation of a drain mechanism.

FIG. 3B is a side view of an implementation of a drain mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A bucket refers to a hollow three-dimensional structure with one face or part of one face open to the exterior of the structure, where the structure is capable of holding a substance within it. The characteristics of a bucket may be adjusted to achieve particular functional purposes. For example, in some implementations a bucket may comprise an oblong rectangular prism shape with an open top with the bucket structure configured to mate with a mop-wringing mechanism, where the bucket contains a mixture of water and one or more cleaning agents for use in mopping a floor or other surface. In other implementations, a bucket may comprise a cylindrical shape with a handle affixed to the open end, where a person may use the bucket to carry water from a water source to a second location for further use.

Typically, a bucket has only one method where a substance may enter or exit the bucket. In many existing implementations of buckets, the only method of adding or removing a substance from the body of the bucket is through the open face or end. In many such implementations, this open face or end is configured on the top of the bucket, meaning the face of the bucket which is furthest from the ground when the bucket is placed on the ground. In such implementations, a person must lift or tip the bucket to pour out the contents of the bucket. To do so may require the person to bend down to manipulate the bucket, which can cause injuries, particularly when the bucket is filled with a substance resulting in a high weight of the bucket and contents taken together.

In some other implementations of buckets, a bucket is configured with a release valve such as a spigot affixed to the side of the bucket. In some implementations, the release valve, when opened, permits the contents of the bucket to move from the interior of the body of the bucket to the exterior of the body. However, such implementations also require a person to either bend down to manipulate the spigot or lift the potentially heavy bucket and contents onto a higher surface prior to manipulating the spigot, thereby creating risk of injury to the person. Further, such implementations may be a risk for clogging or obstruction of the spigot intake by solids within the body of the bucket. Such implementations also often locate the spigot above the base of the bucket, meaning that not all of the contents can drain through the spigot.

It may be useful to provide a bucket configured to permit a person to empty the contents of such bucket without the need for the person to bend down to tip the bucket or manipulate a release valve. Implementations of the improved drainage bucket described herein provide features designed to provide a more efficient drainage system for a bucket while reducing the need for a person to bend down or otherwise manipulate the bucket.

FIG. 1 is a cut-away side view of an implementation of an implementation of an improved drainage bucket.

In some implementations, an improved drainage bucket comprises a body 100. Body 100 may comprise a structure constructed of a non-porous material where such structure is substantially hollow (i.e., contains an open space or cavity within the boundaries of the structure) and capable of holding one or more substances. In some implementations, body 100 may comprise a type of prism structure, for example various implementations may comprise a rectangular prism, cube, cylinder, truncated cone, hexagonal prism, or the like. In some implementations, body 100 may comprise two polygonal faces in parallel planes connected by one or more non-parallelogram faces, for example through curved faces as in a cylinder or truncated cone. In some implementations, body 100 may comprise a complex structure where two non-polygonal faces are located in parallel plane and are connected by one or more faces, which may or may not be parallelograms.

In some implementations, body 100 further comprises a base 110. Base 110 may comprise a structure defining one face of the prism of body 100 where such side oriented substantially parallel (i.e., 180±10 degrees, in many implementations, though other angles may be utilized) to the ground were the bucket to be placed on the ground. In the implementation shown in FIG. 1 , base 110 is a circular member oriented in the X-Y plane, where the positive Y-axis is oriented out of the page.

In some implementations, body 100 further comprises sides 120. Sides 120 may comprise a structure or structures defining the face or faces of body 100 where such face or faces are oriented substantially perpendicular (i.e., 90±10 degrees, in many implementations, though other angles may be utilized) to base 110 along one axis and optionally oriented away from base 110 along one or more of two other axes. For example, in FIG. 1 , sides 120 comprise a continuous member extending along the positive Z-axis with a diameter equal to that of base 110 at the point where sides 120 and base 110 meet, and such diameter increasing at a constant rate along the positive Z-axis.

In some implementations, sides 120 may be further defined by inner walls 121. Inner walls 121 may comprise the surface or surfaces of the structure comprising sides 120 which face the open cavity of body 100. When a substance is placed into an improved drainage bucket, inner walls 121 define the maximum boundary of the substance in at least one direction. In the implementation shown in FIG. 1 , inner walls 121 define the boundaries to which a substance placed in an improved drainage bucket may move along the X and Y axes (where the Y-axis extends into and out of the page).

In some implementations, sides 120 may be further defined by outer walls 122. Outer walls 122 may comprise the surface or surfaces of the structure comprising sides 120 which face the exterior of body 100 (i.e., such surfaces do not face the open cavity of body 100).

In some implementations, body 100 may further comprise contact surface 130. Contact surface 130 comprises the surface or surfaces of body 100 which contact a substantially horizontal surface when an improved drainage bucket is placed on such surface and support the improved drainage bucket on such surface. In some implementations, contact surface 130 is configured to contact the ground and permit an improved drainage bucket to stand on the ground independently of other support. In other implementations, contact surface 130 may comprise one or more structures configured to mate with structures located on a mobile base, thereby securing the improved drainage bucket to the mobile base for ease of transport or maneuvering.

In some implementations, body 100 may further comprise an open face 140. Open face 140 may comprise one face of the structure of body 100 where all or part of such face is not enclosed and through which a substance can be passed from the exterior to the interior of body 100, or vice versa. In some implementations, the entirety of open face 140 is without structure, i.e., completely open. In some implementations, part of open face 140 has structure and only some defined portion of the face is open. In some implementations, open face 140 may comprise a cover, door, hatch, portal, or similar structure which may enable a substance to pass from the exterior to the interior of body 100, or vice versa.

In some implementations, an improved drainage bucket may further comprise a filter 150. Filter 150 may comprise a structure comprising a plurality of channels through which liquids and small to medium sized solids may pass through, but which larger solid objects cannot traverse. For example, in some implementations filter 150 may be a structure comprising a plurality of channels of such size that water and small particles, such as dirt or sand, may pass through the structure of filter 150, but a larger object such as a sponge or mop head cannot pass through filter 150. In some implementations, filter 150 may comprise a structure of equivalent size to base 110 and may be placed within the cavity of body 100 to block the entirety of the cavity of body 100 beyond a certain point. In some implementations, filter 150 may comprise a structure which may be placed within body 100 of an improved drainage bucket at an angle to block only part of the cavity of body 100. In the implementation shown in FIG. 1 , filter 150 comprises a central channel along the Z-axis indicated by the dashed lines.

In some implementations, filter 150 may further comprise filter supports 151. Filter supports 151 may comprise a structure configured to offset filter 150 from one or more of base 110, sides 120, or inner walls 121 of body 100. In the implementation shown in FIG. 1 , filter supports 151 are configured to offset filter 150 from base 110 of the improved drainage bucket. Through this configuration, filter 150 acts to block large object access to the portion of cavity of body 100 which are located below filter 150 along the Z-axis and outside filter supports 151 along the X and Y axes. However, such objects may access the portion of the cavity of body 100 which is below filter 150 along the Z-axis and within filter supports along the X and Y axes.

In some implementations, an improved drainage bucket may further comprise a handle 190. Handle 190 may comprise a structure configured for a human user to grab and hold, thus permitting the user to carry or manipulate the improved drainage bucket. For example, in the implementation shown in FIG. 1 , handle 190 consists of a loop of material extending from a first point on outer wall 121 of side 120 and connected to a second point on outer wall 121 of side 120, where such first and second point are located at opposing extremes of body 100 along the X-axis. In this implementation, handle 190 further comprises a structure at the midpoint of the loop structure configured for a user to grasp, which may optionally be made of material granting increased friction between the user's hand and the grip structure thereby making it easier to maintain a grip on the bucket.

In some implementations, an improved drainage bucket may further comprise drain mechanism 200. Drain mechanism 200 may comprise any structure or set of structures capable of permitting selective draining of the contents of body 100 as further described herein. In some implementations, drain mechanism is located on base 110, such that a substance in body 100 of the improved drainage bucket flows out of base 110 when a drain stopper 202 is in the open position as described further herein.

In some implementations, drain mechanism 200 comprises one or more drain channels 201. Drain channels 201 may comprise an open channel between the interior cavity of body 100 and the exterior, where a substance may move through said channel from the interior to the exterior of body 100.

In some implementations, drain mechanism 200 may further comprise a drain stopper 202. Drain stopper 202 may comprise a structure that, when in a first position, fully closes off drain channels 201, such that no substance can move from the interior of body 100 to the exterior via the drain channels 201 (i.e., a closed position). Drain stopper 202 may comprise a structure that, when in a second position, does not obstruct drain channels 201, such that a substance may flow from the interior of body 100 to the exterior of body 100 (i.e., an open position).

Drain stopper 202 may be configured to move from the first position to second position by any means capable of achieving such transition. For example, in some implementations drain stopper 202 may comprise a solid structure configured to fit within drain channel 201, thereby fully obstructing the drain channel 201 in the first position. In such implementations, the structure of drain stopper 202 may be removed from drain channel 201 and extracted from body 100 of the improved drainage bucket, such removal constituting the second position, thereby removing an obstruction to drain channel 201 and permitting movement of a substance from the interior of body 100 to the exterior.

In other implementations, drain stopper 202 may comprise a structure capable of sliding over the entrance of drain channel 201 within body 100, thereby obstructing drain channel 201 in the first position. In such implementations, the structure of drain stopper 202 may be configured to slide to a second position wherein drain stopper 202 is not located over the entrance of drain channel 201, thereby removing an obstruction to drain channel 201 and permitting movement of a substance from the interior of body 100 to the exterior. In some implementations, additional structures may be provided to secure or affix drain stopper 202 in the first position and/or second position.

In some implementations, drain stopper 202 may be configured to sit within drain channel 201 in a first position, obstructing the drain channel 201 and preventing movement of a substance through drain channel 201. In such implementations, drain stopper 202 may be configured such that when force is applied to the end of drain stopper 202 located within body 100 along substantially the same axis as drain stopper 202 is oriented, drain stopper 202 is actuated into a raised position through the use of springs or other similar extensible members. In such second raised position, drain stopper 202 does not obstruct the flow of a substance between the interior and exterior of body 100 through drain channel 201. In such implementations, the drain mechanism resembles a “pop-up” drain element with corresponding structures.

In the implementation shown in FIG. 1 , drain mechanism 200 is located on the base 110 and both drain mechanism 200 and drain channel 201 are oriented along the Z-axis. In FIG. 1 , drain stopper 202 is oriented within drain channel 201, and a substance cannot flow from the interior of body 100 to the exterior of body 100 through drain channel 201. In the implementation shown in FIG. 1 , drain stopper 202 is configured such that when force is applied to the top (i.e., the extreme surface of drain stopper 202 along the Z-axis) of drain stopper 202, such force substantially along the Z-axis, drain stopper 202 is released from the first position and actuated by a spring to a second position. For example, this application of force may be accomplished by using the handle of a mop or other cleaning tool to press down on the top of drain stopper 202.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of an implementation of an improved drainage bucket.

In FIG. 2 , a user has applied a force downward to drain stopper 202, causing drain stopper 202 to be actuated into the second position. In this second position, drain stopper 202 no longer impedes flow of a substance between the interior and exterior of body 100 through drain channel 201. Due to gravity, in this second position any substance located within body 100 will flow through drain channel 201 and out into the surrounding environment.

In some implementations of the present invention, a user may be able to cause an improved drainage bucket containing a substance to drain by actuating drain stopper 202 using an extended tool, thereby eliminating the need for the user to bend down or manipulate the bucket to empty its contents. Such an outcome may be desirable for efficiency as well as for the health and safety of users.

FIG. 3A is a side view of an implementation of a drain mechanism.

In the implementation shown in FIG. 3A, drain stopper 202 is configured to be located within drain channel 201 in the first position, thereby obstructing flow through drain channel 201. In the implementation shown in FIG. 3A, drain stopper 202 is configured such that when force is applied to the top (i.e., the extreme surface of drain stopper 202 along the Z-axis) of drain stopper 202, such force substantially along the Z-axis, drain stopper 202 is released from the first position and actuated by a spring to a second position. In FIG. 3A, drain stopper 202 is in the first position and a substance cannot flow through drain channel 201.

FIG. 3B is a side view of an implementation of a drain mechanism.

In the implementation shown in FIG. 3B, drain stopper 202 is configured to be located within drain channel 201 in the first position, thereby obstructing flow through drain channel 201. In the implementation shown in FIG. 3B, drain stopper 202 is configured such that when force is applied to the top (i.e., the extreme surface of drain stopper 202 along the Z-axis) of drain stopper 202, such force substantially along the Z-axis, drain stopper 202 is released from the first position and actuated by a spring to a second position. In FIG. 3B, drain stopper 202 is in the second position and a substance can flow through drain channels 201.

The features, elements, structures, and functions described herein are exemplary and other equivalent or similar features, elements, structures, and functions may be achieved beyond those described herein, the descriptions herein should be construed to limit use of such equivalents.

In one implementation, drain channel may comprise a single cylindrical channel (i.e., having a circular profile within the base) through the base of the body of the improved drainage bucket. In such implementation, drain stopper may comprise a circular plastic structure with a radius greater than that of drain channel. Drain stopper may be affixed to the base of the improved drainage bucket by use of a screw or similar structure located at a single point near the edge of drain stopper. Drain stopper may be affixed in a manner that permits drain stopper to rotate about the fastening point. In a first position, drain stopper is oriented such that it fully obstructs the drain channel. An additional structure, such as a latch, may be provided that when engaged, prevents the drain stopper from moving from the first position. A user may disengage the latch, and then subsequently rotate the drain stopper to a second position where it does not fully obstruct the drain channel, thus allowing a substance to flow through the drain channel. In some implementations, a user may be able to disengage the latch and rotate the drain stopper using the end of a mop or other implement, thus eliminating the need to bend down to empty the improved drainage bucket.

In some implementations, a drain mechanism may include filters or other screening structures configured to permit liquids to flow through the drain mechanism and drain channels therein but impeding the flow of solids through drain channels.

In some implementations, contact surfaces may be arranged such that gaps are formed between the points where contact surfaces meet with the ground or another horizontal surface, such that a substance may flow through these gaps when the improved drainage bucket is placed on the horizontal surface and the drain mechanism is in the open position.

An improved drainage bucket may be manufactured from any suitable material to achieve desired weight, strength, and other characteristics as may be determined by those skilled in the art. In some implementations, the improved drainage bucket is manufactured from one or more metals, such as steel, aluminum, or the like. In some implementations, the improved drainage bucket is manufactured from one or more plastics such as high-density polyethylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polylactic acid, or the like. In some implementations, the improved drainage bucket is manufactured from one or more composite materials, such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, and the like. In some implementations, different elements of an improved drainage bucket are manufactured from different materials as may be desirable to achieve certain weight, strength, or other characteristics. Improved drainage buckets embodying the present invention may be manufactured using a variety of methods. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved drainage bucket comprising: a body, the body comprising a base and sides, and a drain mechanism, comprising at least one drain channel permitting a substance to move from the interior of the body to the exterior of the body, and where the drain mechanism is located on the base of the body.
 2. The improved drainage bucket of claim 1, where the drain mechanism further comprises a drain stopper.
 3. The improved drainage bucket of claim 2, where the drain stopper comprises a structure capable of being affixed in a first position and a second position, where in the first position the drain stopper prevents the flow of substances through the drain channel and where in the second position the drain stopper does not prevent the flow of substances through the drain channel.
 4. The improved drainage bucket of claim 3, where the drain stopper is configured to be actuated between the first position and second position by use of a spring.
 5. The improved drainage bucket of claim 3, where the drain stopper is configured to be actuated between the first position and second position by rotation of the drain stopper.
 6. The improved drainage bucket of claim 1, further comprising a filter.
 7. The improved drainage bucket of claim 6, where the filer is displaced from the base of the body by filter supports.
 8. The improved drainage bucket of claim 5, further comprising a structure capable of affixing the drain stopper in the position wherein drain stopper fully obstructs the drain channel.
 9. The improved drainage bucket of claim 3, where the drain mechanism further comprises filtering structures. 